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"People in the Accra region create elaborate coffins that are also considered works of art. These originated with the Ga people, who believe that life carries on in another place after death in the same way it did before. So the coffins are made to represent something the person loved or that symbolizes their life, such as a fish or a chili pepper, and to show the person’s importance to others. The funeral itself is a big, day-long celebratory gathering."

Citation:
(2017) Five death rituals to give you a new view on funerals. NewScientist

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In Nicaragua a deceased’s spouse prepares the body for the burial. Then, they lay out the body for a viewing and paying respects. The wake is the day before the funeral and burial.

After a funeral, there is a nine-day mourning period. During this time, the family hosts a celebration of life and death with daily prayers, singing, scripture readings, and food. In rural areas, it’s common for the entire community to come.
Nicaragua’s Day of the Dead celebration is slightly different than the ones in Mexico. On this holiday, Nicaraguans spend time in the cemetery to clean up their loved one’s gravesite. They may remove weeds and dust, repaint, and bring flowers and food. The paint and flowers tend to be bright colors that contribute to a happy atmosphere. However, the holiday is meant for honoring and remembering the dead, not having a celebration.

Citation: Goldaid, J. (2019) Cultural Spotlight Nicaraguan Funeral Traditions. Frazier Consultants

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A Man performs the Cueca dance at his partners funeral 

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In Chile, "the Cueca is a dance performed at special events such as funerals. While weddings and other occasions have a happy dance version, there is a sad funeral dance version. There also are different versions of the dance depending on what area of Chile you’re in. Some versions have singing along with the music, while some versions are only instrumental.

During the performance, dancers wear traditional Chilean clothes. The women wear blue, white, red, or black dresses, while the men wear hats, ponchos, and riding pants and boots."
Citation: Goldade, J. (2017) Cultural Spotlight: Chilean Funeral Traditions. Frasier Consultants

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Decapitation and Rebirth : A Headless Burial from Nasca, Peru 

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"Decapitation was a common type of ritual sacrifice in the ancient Andes. Images of disembodied heads and decapitation were ubiquitous in the art of the Nasca culture, and the large numbers of physical remains of trophy heads found in the archaeological record of the area are unprecedented. However, few headless bodies have been recovered in the region. A burial from the site of La Tiza is the first documented decapitated burial that dates to Middle Nasca, a time of cultural transition. The debate over the role of decapitation and “trophy heads” centers on whether these heads were taken in battle or were members of the community offered up for ritual sacrifice. Regardless of who these individuals were, it is evident that decapitation and keeping of trophy heads were central to rituals of renewal. The La Tiza burial was associated with an earlier cemetery and habitation area, suggesting a relationship between rituals of fertility and regeneration and the role of the ancestors."

Citation:
Conlee, Christina. (2007). Decapitation and Rebirth: A Headless Burial from Nasca, Peru. Current Anthropology - CURR ANTHROPOL. 48. 438-445. 10.1086/517591.

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Zoroastrian is one of the world's oldest religions, it is practiced in Iran, which was formerly known as Persia.  "One Zoroastrian tradition requires vultures to keep its ancient burial ritual alive. In that tradition a dead body is believed to defile everything it touches—including the ground and fire—and raising a corpse to the sky for vultures to devour was historically the only option. Bull’s urine is used to clean the body before tools, which are later destroyed, are used to cut off clothing. The corpse is then placed atop a Tower of Silence, out of the way of the living who could be tainted by it." Citation:
Newcomb, T. (Invalid Date). 7 Unique Burial Rituals Across the World. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/list/7-unique-burial-rituals-across-the-world

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Memorial Ash Beads From Cremated Remains

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"While countless burial traditions around the world include cremation, South Koreans have taken it a step further by turning the ashes of the deceased into beads. These beads have a bit of a shine to them and come in an array of colors, from pink or black to turquoise. Placed inside glass vases or even open in dishes, the beads can then take center stage inside a home, a more decorative choice than a conventional urn. In a country where space is at a premium and cremation is becoming the only realistic choice for burying the dead, getting something beautiful out of the process gives loved ones a new tradition to embrace and an heirloom to treasure."
Citation:
Newcomb, T. (Invalid Date). 7 Unique Burial Rituals Across the World. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/list/7-unique-burial-rituals-across-the-world

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Manikarnika Ghats' holy festival on the Ganges

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'Celebrating the life of the deceased can take many forms. A tradition from Varanasi, India, involves parading the dead through the streets, the bodies dressed in colors that highlight the virtues of the deceased (red for purity or yellow for knowledge, for example). In an effort to encourage souls to reach salvation, ending the cycle of reincarnation, the bodies are sprinkled with water from the Ganges River and then cremated at the town’s main cremation grounds.

Citation:
Newcomb, T. (Invalid Date). 7 Unique Burial Rituals Across the World. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/list/7-unique-burial-rituals-across-the-world

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“Dancing with the dead best describes the burial tradition in Madagascar of Famadihana. The Malagasy people open the tombs of their dead every few years and rewrap them in fresh burial clothes. Each time the dead get fresh wrappings, they also get a fresh dance near the tomb while music plays all around. This ritual—translated as the “turning of the bones”—is meant to speed up decomposition and push the spirit of the dead toward the afterlife."  Newcomb, Tim. "7 Unique Burial Rituals Across the World". Encyclopedia Britannica, Invalid Date, https://www.britannica.com/list/7-unique-burial-rituals-across-the-world. Accessed 18 November 2021.

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The Navajo are the largest Indian tribe in the US. They believed if someone died and either they had not been at peace, or if the person wasn't buried properly or respectfully -their spirit would be in unrest and return to the living.
Thus Navajo burial customs are meant to ensure the dead don't return to the world of the living - they fear their dead. They believed that spirits of the dead will return to land of the living,
After death occurs, two men are entrusted with preparing the body for burial. Before starting the process, they smear ash all over their bodies. It is thought that the ash will protect them from spirits.  Traditionally the burial is a very minimalistic ceremony.
Citation:
(2017) Navajo Death Rituals. NavajoCode.

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Lakota tradition is to place their deceased loved ones upon scaffolds

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The Lakota are a Native American Tribe, residing primarily in North and South Dakota. They bury their dead, in what is known as a "Sky Burial" as seen in the image above. Before doing this - mourners dress the body in fine clothes and wrap them tightly in robes. Bodies are placed on a scaffold or  raised wooden platform to encourage the spirit's journey to the sky.
While the Lakota burial practices do vary and include traditional earth burial, air and even tree burial -- Lakota's believed the deceased moved on to the spirit world -a parallel existence that can be reached by the living. To help them on their journey to the spirit world -Lakota take bundles of their belongings with them to the grave, such as weapons, pipes, tools medicine, food and drink.

Burial customs of the Lakota are meant to show respect for those who passed; the mourning process may last up to a year, this respect is often expressed through grief. Mourners express grief for the departed by singing, crying, wailing and cutting their hair

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Modern Egyptian burial practices are quite different from the mummification of the past. Today, Egyptians may cremate a deceased person. Most Egyptians today are Muslim, and follow traditional Muslim burial and funeral practices. This often involves allowing family members and friends to gather at a small family mausoleum to pay their last respects, before transporting the deceased’s body to a cemetery for burial.

Ancient Egyptian burials were complex rituals. They mummified the dead, the preservation of the body was of upmost importance as they believed the dead continued to live in the body - even after death. They believed the dead's
passage to the afterlife was complex and dangerous. "The deceased had to pass a series of tests, aided by instructions from the Book of the Dead, protective amulets, and talismans. Final judgment took place before Osiris, the god of the dead. In the final judgment, the deceased’s heart was weighed against the feather of truth. If the scale balanced, Osiris permitted the deceased to enter the Field of Reeds, a paradisiacal world of plenty. If the heart was heavy with sin, the crocodile-headed monster Ammit (Eater of the Dead) devoured the deceased and his/her afterlife ended in torment and shame." (curators).

Citations
(2021) Death and Afterlife in Ancient Egypt. Curators of the University of Missouri

Oliveto, J. (2020)  Egyptian Burials Explained: Rituals, Graves & Modern Practices. Cake.

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In early American times the body of the deceased would first be displayed at home before the services were held. In recent decades, this does not typically happen.
For many other cultures throughout the world, the family members prepare the body for burial or cremation. This is not typical of Americans, as they often rely on professionals to perform these duties. Today, more Americans are choosing to be cremated.
Many American funeral services are held in funeral homes, or a house of worship, depending on the religion of the deceased. The family typically purchases flower displays for the casket. Some families request in the obituary that individuals make contributions to non-profit organizations instead of purchasing flowers, or sympathy gifts.
Most people wear formal attire that is black to the funeral. It is common for a family member to read a eulogy during the funeral that reflects the religious beliefs, accomplishments and attributes of the deceased. Sometimes light meals are served following the funeral, often at a community room, church hall, restaurant, or an individual’s home. The meal gathering allows family members and mourners to share memories of the deceased.
In America their is no set amount of time for a family to grieve. Most US business and organizations provide workers only three days to grieve the loss of a close family member; some receive none.

Citations:
McLeod, B. (2020) 18 Funeral Traditions From the U.S. Explained. Cake.

Ward. M. (2020) American jobs aren't allowing a grieving nation the time needed to mourn the deaths of loved ones. Business Insider.

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In Mexico death is portrayed in statues, art, and literature and history. Mexican children are socialized early to accept death, giving Mexicans a “cultural familiarity with death.” Mexicans and other Latinos celebrate “Dia de los Muertos” TheDay of the Dead) to remember and honor the dead .
In Mexican culture, it’s common to hold a death vigil, or wake, immediately after a death. The body is present for the vigil, and the family surrounds it in prayer for up to 48 hours. A Mexican wake customarily features an open casket, and photos of the dead are displayed as a tribute.
After a death, the family holds the responsibility to keep their loved one from being forgotten. They fulfill that responsibility by visiting the grave each year and by celebrating the Day of the Dead and All souls day.
Citation:
Lobra, S. L., Youngblut, J. M., & Brooten, D. (2006). Cross-Cultural Beliefs, Ceremonies, and Rituals Surrounding Death of a Loved One. Pediatric Nursing, 32(1), 44–50.

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Hinduism is the most common religion in Nepal with 81.3% of the population. The next most common religions are Buddhism at 9%, Islam at 4.4%, and Kiratism at 3%.
When it comes to death, both Hindus and Buddhists believe in reincarnation. For Hindus, the goal is to be released from the reincarnation cycle and achieve Moksha. For Buddhists, the goal is to escape the cycle by reaching Nirvana.
For a Hindu Nepalese funeral, cremation is the most common end-of-life arrangement. However, it isn’t at a crematorium like here in North America. It takes place outside, typically on the banks of the Bagmati River. They also may hold a funeral service before the cremation takes place. As for Buddhists, they also may choose cremation or sky burials.
The mourning period length can vary, but it’s typically around 11 to 13 days . It serves as a time to grieve, honor the deceased, memorialize them, and support their family. During this time, mourners can’t eat certain vegetables or meat. They also can only wear white clothing and nothing made out of leather, such as belts, watches, or shoes.
Citation:
Goldade, J. (2016) Cultural Spotlight Nepalese Funeral Traditions. Frazer Consultants.

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Palau is an island country in the western Pacific Ocean. The Palaun people have a connection to the sea. Roman Catholicism is the most common religion. For this reason, a Palaun funeral typically follows this religion’s customs, in addition to some traditional Palaun beliefs.

A Palaun funeral is an important ritual to honor the dead. It also serves as a gathering time for family who may not see each other often. Typically, the oldest female family members organize the funeral, and the family settles any of the deceased’s debts. If a woman’s husband dies, she and her children return to her birth home. At funerals, there is chanting and dancing  with “fluid and unhurried” motions. For the burial it’s typically at a cemetery or some people still bury the deceased in the stone platform of the family’s house.
Citation:  Goldade, J. (2019)  Cultural Spotlight: Palaun Funeral Traditions. Frasier Consultants.

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Most of the population of Mauritania identifies as Sunni Muslim, and believe the soul goes to the Angel of Death to wait for Judgment Day. On this day, it’s determined whether they go to paradise or hell.
The burial is done as quickly as possible due to Mauritania’s desert-like climate. Most people are still buried, only people who died of a disease are cremated. Bodies are washed seven times and wrapped in white cloth and carried to the graveyard. The deceased is placed in a grave facing Mecca.
A Mauritanian funeral, is also a celebration of life and somewhat of a family reunion. however only men attend funerals. For the funeral meal, they slaughter cattle.  After the burial, the guests do not turn back toward the graveyard. Normally, the personal belongings of the deceased are given to the poor.

Read more: https://www.everyculture.com/Ma-Ni/Mauritania.html#ixzz7BNhPhvSH

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Before a Bolivian funeral , there is a wake at a family's home. During the wake, mourners gather to grieve while eating, drinking, and sometimes smoking cigarettes. These festivities may go throughout the night - the next day is the funeral service and burial.
Traditionally, families who lived near the city of La Paz did a ritual funeral hike to Choqueyapu River. They washed the deceased’s clothes in the river and then had a picnic. Once the clothes dried, they burned them by the riverbank. They believed this helped the deceased’s soul get into the afterlife.
Respect and generosity are both important in the Bolivian culture. To show their respect for the deceased, families may have expensive and extravagant funerals. They also have a mourning feast with fresh veggies and beef, chicken, or pork to show their generosity. Throughout the first year after their passing, the family also has four masses to mourn and show respect for the deceased.
Citation:
Goldade, J.  (2017) Cultural Spotlight Bolivian Funeral Traditions. Frazer Consultants.

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Most Japanese believe when a person dies, their soul lives on in the land of the dead.  Japanese funerals are called Ososhiki, they are almost always Buddhist-style, and contain several ceremonies, including a memorial ceremony, where friends of the bereaved pay respects and offer condolences to the family. There is also a cremation ceremony – which is very private and held with only family. You can learn more about how the Japanese grieve in the following article, Shinto: Periods of Mourning.

Citations:
J. Goldade (2017) Cultural Spotlight Japanese funeral Traditions. Frazer Consultants

Japanese Funeral Etiquette: Some Helpful Guidelines (2018)

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Rwandans often believe spirits continue on after death. For this reason, they consider their family as not only the living but also those who have passed. After the death, there is a
mourning period before the burial that is typically three to seven days . During this time, mourners pay their respects to the deceased. They build a remembrance fire to sit around while eating and sharing stories about the deceased.
During a Rwandan funeral the members grieve their loss in silence. Depending on the deceased’s religion, they read scriptures at the service which also may take place graveside. The casket also may be open or closed, depending on preference.
For the burial one family member will prepare and dress the body- this one person is given a special gift. After the ceremony and burial, there is a ceremonial hand washing. Even well after the funeral, mourners visit the gravesite on special days or whenever they wish to visit.
Citation:
Goldade, J. (2019) Cultural Spotlight Rwanda Funeral Traditions. Frazer Consultants.

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After a death, family and friends, do ritual wailing and praying. The oldest family member plans the funeral. The funeral is an elaborate social event, the family and others gather for meals and men play dominoes.
After the funeral, the mourning period lasts for 7-9 days, during this time there are rituals to honor the deceased. On the ninth day, there’s a celebration similar to a funeral.

Voodoo practicers believe the soul is free on the ninth day. Then, a year and one day later, they perform a ritual to send the soul to the spirit world with their ancestors. The soul goes into the body of a family member or friend and reincarnates 16 times before permanently staying in the spirit world.
Citation: J. Goldade (2019) Hattian Funeral Traditions (Blog post). Frazer Consultants.

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The Apayao people of the Philippines wrap the deceased in a mat, and immediate family members carry them on their shoulders. They place items in the casket that can help the deceased on their afterlife journey, such as a spear or shield for protection. They bury the deceased under the kitchen of their home or in the family’s burial location.
At the funeral, mourners don’t let their tears fall onto the casket.
Citation:
Goldade J. (2019) Cultural Spotlight Funeral Traditions of Filipino Ethic Groups. Frazer Consultants.

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Kikuyu people of Kenya
When it comes to death, mourners don’t believe in crying. Instead, they’ll loudly wail to express grief for their loss and show respect to the dead.
The funeral celebration may include feasts, singing, and dancing. While others may opt for a quick funeral that’s not as elaborately planned but still honors the deceased.
Citation:
Goldade, J. (2019) Cultural Spotlight Luhya People of Kenya Funeral Traditions. Frazer Consultants.

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Māori people of New Zealand
The Māori ceremony for mourning someone who died is commonly called a tangi, which also means to weep, and to sing a dirge (a lament for the dead).A tangi often takes three days and is held  in a hall or a home.
The dead play an important role in Māori traditions. They are acknowledged at all gatherings, irrespective of the nature of the meeting, through karanga (calls), whaikōrero (speeches), song and tears. This remembering of those who have passed away serves to remind Māori of their cultural importance of life, people and relationships.
Funeral events are enhanced by the display of significant artefacts, including rare traditional weapons and jewelry, all of which adorn the casket. Portraits of deceased relatives are exhibited. The casket is generally closed before the final church or memorial service.  Sometimes grief is relieved by kawe mate (ceremonial visits following the burial or cremation of the deceased) over ensuing months, and later by the hura kōhatu (unveiling of the headstone)
Citation: Nikora, L.W., Te Awekotuku, N., Rua, M., Temara, P., Maxwell, T., Murphy, E., McRae, K. & Moeke-Maxwell, T. (2010). Tangihanga: The ultimate form of Māori cultural expression - overview of a research programme. In J.S. Te Rito & S.M. Healy (Eds.), Proceedings of the 4th International Traditional Knowledge Conference 2010: Kei Muri i te Kāpara he Tangata Kē Recognising, Engaging, Understanding Difference, (Pp.400-405). Auckland, New Zealand: Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga

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The Aboriginal people of Australia have been practicing burials and cremations for tens of thousands of years. When a person passes away, family and friends try to ensure the spirit does not stay and cause trouble. This can include using smoke to drive the spirit away and building mounds of dirt on the ground to separate graves from campsites. Yellow or Orange Ochre, which is earth with traces of rust is used in funerals. Some use it to color the deceased’s home, others use it on the bones of the deceased. Typically the community comes together after a death to share the sorrow the family feels.

Citation:
Goldade, J. (2016) Cultural Spotlight Indigenous Australian funerals. Frazier Consultants.

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Australian funerals are usually a week after the death and most people wear black.  Funeral personalization, non-traditional (such as outdoor) memorial services are popular. Cremation is more popular than burial due to rising costs.

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In Turkish culture the dead are buried as soon as possible. During the burial the 36th section of Quran is recited. If the dead is a maiden or a newly married woman, a red wreath is placed on the grave. If the dead is a young man or a soldier, the flag of the country is raised. In some regions of Turkey they close the eyes of the dead so the deceased shall not go with their eyes open. However, in other regions it is practiced so that the deceased shall not take anyone after them. There are many differences in how those in Turkey mourn the dead – including the length of time and activities they don’t participate in during that time.

Citation:
Z. Bahar, A. Beşer, F. Ersin, A. Kıssal, N. G. Aydoğdu (2012) Traditional and Religious Death Practices in Western Turkey, Asian Nursing Research. Volume 6, Issue 3, 107-114

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Summary

Purpose

To investigate death-related traditional and religious practices in Narlıdere, a district of Izmir province in Turkey.

Methods

A descriptive design was used ( n = 181). The interview form was composed of 28 open-ended questions. The data were collected through face-to-face interviews by the researchers. Descriptive statistics and chi-square significance test were conducted.

Results

Of all the participants, 36.5% described death as the end of life. Praying took place first among the religious practices following death. A total of 42.0% said that relatives and friends who joined the burial ceremony shovel some soil into the pit over the corpse in order to express that they would not claim any rights from the deceased person thereafter, and 55.2% stated that they visited the deceased person's home to give social support to his or her relatives.

Conclusion

We recommended that nurses and physicians be closely acquainted with the prevailing traditions and religious beliefs in the communities where they served.

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Traditional and Religious Death Practices in Western Turkey

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To investigate death-related traditional and religious practices in Narlıdere, a district of Izmir province in Turkey. A descriptive design was used ( n = 181). The interview form was composed of 28 open-ended questions. The data were collected through face-to-face interviews by the researchers. Descriptive statistics and chi-square significance test were conducted.

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The deceased’s family prepares the body either at home or a mosque. They wash the deceased and wrap the body in white linen while performing ritual chants. They bury the deceased facing Mecca. A few days after the funeral, the family gathers for a meal  to honor their loved one’s memory. They make food and they also read sections of the Quran. The mourning period typically lasts 40 days. Moroccan people wear white rather than black while grieving.
Citation:
J. Goldade (2018) Cultural Spotlight: Moroccan Funeral Traditions (Blog post). Frazer Consultants.

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Cultural Spotlight: Moroccan Funeral Traditions

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This article looks at Moroccan funeral traditions and is part of a series that highlights how different cultures care for their dead.

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Chinese ancient tradition holds that the soul lives on after death, and the spirit of the deceased returns to home seven days after death. Throughout history the Chinese have carried out complex funerals, some that rival the complexity of the ancient Egyptians. The Terracotta Army, was constructed to accompany China’s First Emperor to the afterlife, it has more than 8,000 life-sized unique warrior sculptures. Archeologists believe it took over 700,000 laborers and as many as 40 years to complete.
In modern times the traditional mourning period, called shǒusāng is observed for 49 days.  While Chinese funeral and mourning practices vary greatly by geography religion, social status and cause of death - most hold a wake. The wake can occur inside the home or in a courtyard. Relatives and friends often bring gifts of candles, fruit, and flowers. Immediate and extended family and friends attend the wake. Pregnant or engaged couples do not attend the funeral. Chinese superstition says this will invite bad luck to these individuals. It’s a tradition for women to wail in grief.  An altar is built around the casket and incense and candles are burned. Visitors bring white money envelopes to help contribute to the funeral fund.  Gambling in the courtyard may take place to offer a distraction to the family. At the end of the wake, the casket is covered with yellow and white holy paper, that symbolizes protection. Some family will look away during this time as they believe it can bring bad luck.

Citations:
Dafoe, T. (2020) There Are 8,000 Known Terracotta Warriors. But Archaeologists in China Just Found More Than 200 Others. ArtWorld.

Coriell. E. (2021) Chinese Funerals: What to Expect, Customs & Traditions. Cake.